UCAS Transforms University Applications with Record Numbers and Enhanced Accessibility for 2025

Record-Breaking Applications and New Initiatives

The 2025 academic year has seen unprecedented numbers of UK university applications, with a total of 600,660 applicants. UK 18-year-olds have submitted more applications than ever before, with numbers rising to 323,360, marking a 2.1% increase from 2024.

In a landmark move to improve accessibility, UCAS has eliminated the application fee for students receiving free school meals. This change will be implemented through the adviser portal, where teachers and advisers will verify eligible students.

International Growth and System Improvements

The UK continues to be an attractive destination for international students, with a 2.7% increase in international undergraduate applicants compared to the previous year. The most significant growth has come from China (+2,540 applicants), Ireland (+750), and the USA (+700).

UCAS has implemented several changes to streamline the application process for international students. The system now includes enhanced features for determining tuition fee status, direct school connections for automatic information population, and options for students to specify their attendance mode (online or in-person).

Key Changes and Future Outlook

A new feature allows prospective students to view the grades and offer rates of previously accepted students when searching for courses. Students can input their predicted grades to contextualize historical information, with data covering A level and BTEC grades from 2019 to 2023 cycles.

Despite the overall growth, some challenges remain. The number of UK mature applicants (aged 21+) has decreased by 6.4%, and the application rate for UK 18-year-olds has slightly declined to 40.6% due to population growth.

However, there has been encouraging growth in applications from disadvantaged backgrounds across all UK nations. UCAS continues to develop its application process based on feedback from all sectors, demonstrating its commitment to improving accessibility and user experience in higher education.